The Brookhaven leader., 1887-08-25
BURNED AT SEA.
The Steamer City of Montreal Burned at
Sea-The Passengers Rescued.


steamer, City Of Montreal, has been de-
stroyed by fire at sea. Her passengers
were saved She left New York August 6
for Liverpool, under the command Of Cap
tain Land. The news of the burning was
learned upon the arrival at Queenstown
this morning of the British steamer, York
City, Captain Benn, which left Baltimore
August for London. This steamer re-
ceived the passengers and crew from
the burning vessel, and brought them
to Queenstown. A boat contain
ing six passengers and seven
members Of the crew is missing. The
occupants Of the boat are the thirteen per-
sons reported to have perlshed. There
were 40 passengers in all. The passen-
gers and crew of the City of VI ontreal were
taken of the York City by the tug Mount
Etna and landed at Queenstown. All were
accounted for except the thirteen persons
in the missing boat 1t is learned that
shortly after the passengers had gone to
bed on the night of the 10th, the ship
being IN latitude 43 north at the time, they
were aroused by the alarm Of fire.
scene of CONSERVATION ensued and
the passengers were greatly terrified when
they found out the state of affairs. The
smoke caused by the fire was suffocating
The passengers dressed and got on deck as
quickly as possible with but little appear
ance OF panic The fire originated III cot
ton stored in the after-main-hold. Nine
streams of water were soon working on
the flames, and the course Of the vessel
was shaped toward Newfoundland, 400
miles distant. The flames spread with
great rap!dity, and soon had burst
out with terrific force through the midway
and after hatch, the heat being intense. 1t
became evident that 1t was impossible to
save the ship and a momentary panic en-
sued
The boats were lowered and the passen-
gers and crew got into them. They soon
scattered and one entirely vanished. This
contained two stewards, four seamen and
seven passengers, and there is but little
doubt that the entire boat load persisted.
The boat did not contain full crew, and
LETT the City of Montreal against the cap
tan's orders as there was time TO take
many more in it. The other survivors con
slder the fate Of the occupants Of the lost
boat as a Judgment for their cowardice. A
bark was sighted shortly after the boats left
the steamer, and her crew were preparing
to pick up the survivors when the steamer
York City, attracted by the flames from the
burning vessel. which were shooting up a
hundred feet IN the air, bore down and with
difficulty took all hands on board. The res
cued people were treated with the utmost
kindness by the captain and crew Of the
York City, and the passengers speak with
much feeling of the consideration which
was accorded to them. The survivors are
unanimous in declaring that the officers
and crew of the City of Montreal did thcil
duty nobly and skillfuHy
The boats We're eight in number, and con
sisted of four lIfebOats and four pinnaces
These were launched and stocked with pro
visions. The flames spread with great
fercencss and the efforts to quench then
were soon found futile, and at eight cloCh
III the morning the passengers were mar
shaled on deck preparatory to entering the
boats Many OF them We're weeping, but
on the whole they were quiet and orderly
The family groups presented a sight plua
bic to see, as they huddled together il
fear and trembling. There was "a heavy
sea running, and it was with difficulty
that the boats were kept from being
smashed The crew worked splendidly
and all the passengers were placed in the
boats in a comparatively short time. How
they foated with their heavy loads is {
miracle AS the last boat was putting fl
from the ship several OF the passengers
and crew were seen aft. They had been
overlooked and were screaming for the
boats TO return. They were subsequently
bravely rescued, half dead from the eff
fects of the smoke and heat. The masts OF
ship were seen on the horizon, but ten
hours elapsed before it came near.
The women and children were first put
on board the boats and the men afterward
t.I Il,
the boats with their respective crews, the
men being compelled to continue until the
last moment the work of keeping the
flames down. All the boats left the shiI
! safely, but by an unfortunate oversight
twenty people were left aboard the burn
ing vessel. Boat No. 3 returned and tool
off six of the number. Boat No 5, will
the fourth officer, took off six more. A
barque was then reported approaching anC
when all the boats had put their people
! aboard her they returned and took of
/ those remaining on the burning steamer
| 1t was found that boat No. 5 was missing
| She was seen to put herself before the Win(
when she left the ship, using her oars il
support of the sails. She ran away from
! the vessel in direct disobedience to tn,
captains orders. Every body spent tht
night aboard the German barque Trabant
| Captain Schee, from Charleston, July ?
| Tor London, and all were then transferred
TO the York City, which stayed by through
| out the night and valnly searched for th
| missing boat. Captain Land says he i
sanguine that the people in boat No. $ arr
saved, as the accident occurred in the
| track of the steamers bound east and west
The passengers, he adds, were cool anC
obedicut during the crisis and the crew
We're steady.
| The passengers aud crew lost every thin;
except what they stood in when they wen
to the boats. The origin of the fire is un
| known, but it is certain that it broke out il
more than one place among the cotton
| The rescued passengers and crew whel
landed at Queenstown by the York Cit,
We're in a pltiable condition. The Inmal
| Company's agents at once forwarded all o
those who were prepared to continue thei
travels and did every thing possible for tn
comfort of the rest. The steamer Mara
thon, of the Cunard Company's feet, wi
sail in place of the City of Montrea
Tuesday. The names of thos
in the missing boat are: Passer
gers, Samuel Kaufman, George All
mold and Samuel Mckee, Intermediates
Kenard Woolton, stephen Tupper, Simo
kolelli; crew, Henry Frazer, Charles ReaC
William Frauney, Patrick Hughe
(trimmer), Charles Smith Interpreter
and Thomas Wilberforce (steward). Tn
captain of the bark Brabant undertook /
cruise around after the York City left tn
scene of the burning. There is, therefore
reason TO hope that the missing boat ha
been rescued.
|
Anxious Creditors.
CHICAGO, Aug l9.-Levi Rosenfeld die
last night at his Prairie avenue mansion